FG committed to fast-tracking ERGP implementation – Udo-Udoma

By Adeyemi Adebayo 

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, on Thursday reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to the implementation of the various strategies set out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), to address the five execution priorities of Macroeconomic Stabilization, Agriculture and Food Security, Transportation, Energy and Industrialization.

Senator Udoma who was addressing the Joint Planning Board/National Council on Development Planning (JPB/NCDP) meetings in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said with the faithful implementation of the plan government will be able to deliver a resilient and more prosperous economy where ‘we grow what we eat and consume what we make.’

According to a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Akpandem James, Udoma noted that though the plan was hailed within and outside the country as well designed to address the fundamental economic challenges of the country, there were some concerns expressed about implementation, given past failures as a country to effectively implement previous plans.

He assured that the Buhari administration was determined to properly implement the plan.

He said already, government was encouraged by the achievements recorded so far in the implementation of the ERGP.

Explaining that the ERGP was conceived as a comprehensive medium term plan to address the fundamental problems of the country and place the economy on the path of diversified, sustainable and inclusive growth, he stated that many innovations were being introduced to achieve faster results.

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Pointing to the success recorded through the ERGP Focus Labs, held early this year, in driving the objectives of the plan in some key sectors of the economy, the minister said more of such innovations would help to fast-track implementation of the plan.

He was hopeful that the JPB/NCDP meetings would generate new ideas that would help the plan implementation.

The annual JPB/NCDP meetings is a platform for State Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss with one another the Nigerian economy and keep abreast of developments by hearing from development experts on topical economic issues.

The theme for this year’s meeting is “Accelerating implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan: the role of stakeholders.”

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who declared the NCDP meeting open, agreed with the Minister that notwithstanding the successes recorded so far in the implementation of the ERGP, the government was determined to do even more.]

He added that the realisation of the goals of the ERGP would require the active participation of the sub-national governments.

“At the federal level, our commitment is never in doubt. We will definitely not relent until the majority of the citizens feel the impact of our efforts,” he assured.

Prof. Osinbajo who was represented by the Budget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udoma, commended states that had already adopted a number of the initiatives being promoted in the plan, and called on other states that had not done so to key into the implementation of the plan because it was the only way to guarantee a better future.

At the event also were the host governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige.